13.04.2022

Known As | Stand | Listening

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy and positive impact
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

Have you taken the GLAS Understanding Assessment
and received your free report?

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

Known As

I have a growing issue with personality profiling assessments. I have long since rejected the idea of labelling, and various external reports telling me - and everyone else - what “box” I belong in or which letter or colour I am. Once, I was even labelled as a type of bird having taken once such assessment! This subject popped up again recently in a conversation.

Our personality is an expression of our identity. Our identity is continually changing and formed through our experiences. Therefore, this highlights the problem of being ‘labelled’ as one fixed thing - we can’t be. I’ve have heard people blame their externally created ‘label’ for their behaviour saying things like: “it’s just who I am”.

All of this is a choice. Yes, our DNA and experiences shape us, however as we look to our future, we can begin to decide who we want to be and what we want to be known for. A simple example of this is choosing ‘friendly’ as a quality we want to be known for. Once we have a quality in mind, we need to consider the behaviours that create this - as this is what we will become known for. A friendly person wouldn’t post derogatory comments about others on social media, for example.

This is exactly the case for our businesses too - although we then call it our ‘brand’. Reputations and brand are built from our behaviours. Our behaviours can be chosen to align to who we want to be - it’s not a coincidence, it’s science.

Knowing who you want to be known as - and behaving accordingly - creates the identity and personality of your choice.

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or positive energy; a stand-out word / s

Stand

Following on from this week’s LEARN, my chosen energy is ‘stand’. To stand strongly, with inner-confidence and courage allows us to face whatever we may choose or need to face.

The word originates from Old English STANDAN, meaning "occupy a place; stand firm; congeal; stay, continue, abide; be valid, be, exist, take place; oppose, resist attack; stand up, be on one's feet; consist, amount to".

Of course, and as with everything, there is a need for balance (pardon the pun in terms of standing). We do need to recognise when we need to stand firmly and when to move. This is important for us physically - a good dose of exercise and movement is vital of course - but also for us mentally and emotionally. Being about to move our thinking and question it is essential. This is often known as the ‘growth mindset’ and is beautifully explained by Adam Grant in Think Again.

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

The Known As List

We seem to be on a rolling theme here, so let’s continue…

Write down your list of 10 ideal ‘known as’ traits. I’ve given the example of ‘friendly’, but it could include some from the following list of examples:

• warm

• kind

• open

• determined

• focused

• inquisitive

• learner

Once you have your list, add a second column to the right. Add the behaviour that supports each trait that you’ve chosen.

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“How good are you at listening?”

Listening is a fascinating topic - on first consideration we think about what we hear with our ears. Hearing is the mechanism by which sound travels to the brain. Listening is how and what we pay attention to - and the meaning we create from this.

Listening isn’t just about audio sound - what is said or heard. It can include taking in the subtle cues of body language and energy. It can also be understanding what isn’t said or heard, the avoidance or gaps. Listening at a deep level is a skill that needs to be worked at. How good are you at fully listening?

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

Vintage Engineering Equipment

I had a lovely conversation with someone recently about the beauty of a piece of woodworking equipment. It was a family heirloom, passed on from his grandfather. This item was just as useful as it was when first acquired. It reminded me of our old factory - from our family’s manufacturing business. During my office as Chief Executive, I oversaw the installation of several modern and high-tech pieces of plant and machinery. I loved to see these things sitting next to presses and old drillers dating back to the early 1900s. The beauty of these old pieces was stunning - and in fact I have seen them used to make table bases and furniture, but it isn’t just their beauty, it was the fact they still did the job they were designed for.

I’m all for change and modernising production, but there is a lot that the past can continue to offer along side the new!

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week, my recommended book is a very popular book and one that appears on lots of people’s ‘must-read’ lists. This is Rich Diviney’s book The Attributes.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

*** ORDER YOURS NOW ***

Order Your Deliberate Year Calendar & Logbook Set

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?